WGA to open office in Washington, DC
WGA to open office in Washington, DC
Western Growers Association, based in Irvine, CA, will open a Washington, DC, office April 30 that will be staffed by Executive Vice President Matt McInerney on a temporary basis while a full-time federal government affairs staff is being hired.
"I do not know if there has been a time in history when there have been so many important [federal] issues facing the fresh produce industry," said Tom Nassif, president of the association. "The 2007 farm bill, immigration reform and food safety, to name just three, are very important issues, and they are all on the table right now."
In fact, Mr. Nassif said that each of these issues is currently being debated in Congress, with significant action expected this year. As such, WGA decided to move full steam ahead with its plan to have its own government affairs office in the nation's capital immediately.
"I have been looking for the right person for a D.C. office for awhile now," said Mr. Nassif. "But we decided to make the search public and open the office right now because we need to be there right now."
Association executives and board members have been making regular trips to Washington for the past several years. In addition, the association has relied heavily on the services of lobbying consultants Robert Schramm of Schramm, Williams & Associates, and Julian Heron of Tuttle, Taylor & Heron. Mr. Nassif said that the association would continue to utilize the services of these consultants. "But we needed our own person on the Hill," he said. "We need someone that can go over to the USDA or the FDA or testify at a congressional hearing on very short notice."
Mr. Nassif said that the opening of a Washington, DC, office is a natural progression for WGA, which has had government affairs offices in the state capitals of California and Arizona for many years. "There is no group [currently] in Washington that specifically represents the growers and shippers of California and Arizona," he said.
The two states, which comprise the regular membership of WGA, represent about 50 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the United States.
Mr. McInerney said, "The fresh produce industry has able representation in Washington, DC, but most lobbyists are either commodity specific or representing specific segments of the industry. Our office will give the growers of fruits and vegetables in California and Arizona direct representation."
Mr. Nassif added that during the transition period over the next several months, "both Jasper Hempel, WGA's executive vice president and general counsel, and I will spend more time in Washington, DC, to assist Matt in establishing Western Growers' full-time presence in Congress and the many federal agencies with whom we work."
Mr. Nassif said that Mr. McInerney was the logical person for the interim position as he has been the association's point person on federal issues for the past several years. He said that a nationwide search has been launched to find the right person for the new position. In the near future, he expects WGA's Washington, DC, office to be a two-person office that continues to rely on the contract lobbyists.
Though the farm bill and immigration reform are expected to be passed this year, Mr. Nassif said that food-safety issues will be an ongoing concern for many years, and it is expected that both immigration reform and the farm bill will include provisions that need many regulatory actions over the next several years. He said there are many other legislative and regulatory issues on the federal level that will keep WGA's federal staff very busy.
"I do not know if there has been a time in history when there have been so many important [federal] issues facing the fresh produce industry," said Tom Nassif, president of the association. "The 2007 farm bill, immigration reform and food safety, to name just three, are very important issues, and they are all on the table right now."
In fact, Mr. Nassif said that each of these issues is currently being debated in Congress, with significant action expected this year. As such, WGA decided to move full steam ahead with its plan to have its own government affairs office in the nation's capital immediately.
"I have been looking for the right person for a D.C. office for awhile now," said Mr. Nassif. "But we decided to make the search public and open the office right now because we need to be there right now."
Association executives and board members have been making regular trips to Washington for the past several years. In addition, the association has relied heavily on the services of lobbying consultants Robert Schramm of Schramm, Williams & Associates, and Julian Heron of Tuttle, Taylor & Heron. Mr. Nassif said that the association would continue to utilize the services of these consultants. "But we needed our own person on the Hill," he said. "We need someone that can go over to the USDA or the FDA or testify at a congressional hearing on very short notice."
Mr. Nassif said that the opening of a Washington, DC, office is a natural progression for WGA, which has had government affairs offices in the state capitals of California and Arizona for many years. "There is no group [currently] in Washington that specifically represents the growers and shippers of California and Arizona," he said.
The two states, which comprise the regular membership of WGA, represent about 50 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the United States.
Mr. McInerney said, "The fresh produce industry has able representation in Washington, DC, but most lobbyists are either commodity specific or representing specific segments of the industry. Our office will give the growers of fruits and vegetables in California and Arizona direct representation."
Mr. Nassif added that during the transition period over the next several months, "both Jasper Hempel, WGA's executive vice president and general counsel, and I will spend more time in Washington, DC, to assist Matt in establishing Western Growers' full-time presence in Congress and the many federal agencies with whom we work."
Mr. Nassif said that Mr. McInerney was the logical person for the interim position as he has been the association's point person on federal issues for the past several years. He said that a nationwide search has been launched to find the right person for the new position. In the near future, he expects WGA's Washington, DC, office to be a two-person office that continues to rely on the contract lobbyists.
Though the farm bill and immigration reform are expected to be passed this year, Mr. Nassif said that food-safety issues will be an ongoing concern for many years, and it is expected that both immigration reform and the farm bill will include provisions that need many regulatory actions over the next several years. He said there are many other legislative and regulatory issues on the federal level that will keep WGA's federal staff very busy.
